[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Who Are You - School 2015" Episode 2

Somewhat disappointingly, this episode uses the plot device of amnesia to mostly avoid tackling the issues established about Eun-bi's character last episode. Now, obviously, given all the trouble "Who Are You - School 2015" went to to set up a rather mysterious premise, we're going to get back to all this at some point. For the moment though the drama goes in a mostly generic direction as Eun-bi tries to get a grasp of her new surroundings.

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One particularly interesting scene in the hospital serves as a clear reminder that the bullying issues haven't gone away. Mi-kyeong (played by Jeon Mi-sun) is naturally the mother Eun-bi has always wanted, and the older woman fiercely defends her daughter from an apparently unprovoked attack. Yet note how Mi-kyeong is willing to turn a blind eye to this behavior once it's established that Eun-bi was the one being harassed, rather than Eun-byeol. The irony is rather unmistakable.

Similarly unsettling is the way that Eun-byeol receives immediate unconditional and universal support in the classroom. Contrast this to the way Eun-bi was openly harassed. And it's not like this is obviously a better school in any case. A brief, contextless flashback courtesy of Eun-bi's true memories makes an appearance entirely thanks to the fact that she recognized the disgusted stares of her new classmates- even if they weren't directed at her.

One thing I'm less sure of this time is that "Who Are You - School 2015" will really go the sustained route in dealing with bullying. While the tone of the first episode was oppressive and unbearable, to date Eun-bi (and by extension the viewer) isn't really sure what's going on at this new school. But if bullying is happening, it seems quite likely that a much larger portion of the student body is complicit with it in some way. And I especially can't help but wonder- where were the parents during that whole karaoke scene?

In any case the presentation definitely hints at these questions being mysteries rather than plot holes. There's not even any preview- presumably to help us feel solidarity at Eun-bi's befuddlement having discovered the contents of Eun-byeol's locker. It's hard to know what to feel- are we supposed to be happy that Eun-bi's getting unconditional support having never experienced that kind of camraderie before, or concerned that Eun-byeol is getting unconditional support when she appears to have been caught red-handed as an accomplice to a serious crime? Did the real Eun-byeol engineer these events- and why? Guess we'll just have to tune in next time.

Review by William Schwartz

"Who Are You - School 2015" is directed by Baek Sang-hoon and Kim Seong-yoon, written by Kim Hyeon-jeong-II and Kim Min-jeong-II, and features Kim So-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Yook Sung-jae, Lee Pil-mo, Lee David, Kim Hee-jung-I and more.

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